Support Us Button Widget

Why is Raleigh nicknamed the City of Oaks?

Webp.net-compress-image (9)

Photo by @visitraleigh

Ever wonder why Raleigh is nicknamed the “City of Oaks”? Well, us too — so we did little digging…

And it’s kind of obvious. Oak trees are everywhere in Raleigh. They line the city streets and even welcome visitors as they land at RDU. However, It is rumored that the city’s founding fathers were the ones to originally call Raleigh the City of Oaks in 1792. The name just stuck.

In actuality, Raleigh’s oak trees have most likely been here far longer than human habitation of any kind. One of our tallest and oldest oak trees stood in Nash Square for ~120 years. The beautiful willow oak was cut down due to safety concerns in 2019.

Another great white oak once stood at the intersection of N. Blount and E.North streets. This oak reached ~200 years and grew to 100 feet. And although the tree succumbed to weather damage + disease in 1991, a plaque commemorating the tree and its unique history remains.

There are more than 600 different types of oak trees and while we didn’t think you’d want us to tell you about every single one, we will name the two most common to Raleigh. During your explorations, you’ve most likely seen white + red oaks — white oaks have rounded lobes and sweeter acorns, while red oaks have soft pointed spines on the ends of their leaf lobes and more bitter acorns.

But it should be noted that Raleigh does have other trees as well. Hey, you never know. Magnolias, dogwoods and cedars are all also common in the city. So if you’re itching to go tree-spotting and wondering how to identify an oak from other common saplings, some distinguishing features include: acorns, lobed leaves + small, scaly bark. ProTip: If the tree produces acorns, it’s an oak.

Did you know that one huge oak can drop up to 10,000 acorns in a mast year? Maybe we should be the City of Acorns instead? 🌰

More from RALtoday
The store finds vacant retail spaces and signs temporary leases to set up shop leading up to Halloween — but locations can change each year.
Sponsored
To help make your entire process at RDU as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s 48 nonstop routes.
Raleigh’s favorite indie rock fest is celebrating 15 years in downtown, and while you need a wristband to see the headliners + many club shows, you can still have plenty of fun without a ticket. Here’s how to enjoy Hopscotch without a wristband.
Dig into delicious and nutritious vegan and vegetarian fare in every corner of Raleigh.
From the floral backdrop to the customized ring — we’re dreaming of having our own viral engagement in Oak City.
The Pack is back in Carter-Finley on Thursday, Aug. 28 — here’s what you need to know while rooting for NC State football this season.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Have you ever thought “That’s an odd place for a bar.” Well in Raleigh, there is no such thing as odd for these spots around town.
After its March closure, a new team with ties to the former ownership group of 42nd Street Oyster Bar has expressed interest in reopening the Raleigh staple as early as February 2026. Read up on readers’ memories from this local gem.